51社区

Franklin received her Ph.D. in Instructional Technology from 51社区 and M.S. in Occupational Technology from the University of Houston. As a Professor Emerita at 51社区, she works on special projects for Global Affairs and International Studies as well as teaching graduate courses in instructional design, online course design for teaching and learning, research, and assessment including research in the field of instructional technology on a part-time basis.

With the development of quality K-12 teachers and University faculty as her passion, Franklin has become internationally known for the development of quality assurance processes to establish teacher education, certification, and accreditation in higher education institutions in the Middle East. She recently returned from Turkey (2021) having worked with the Turkish Higher Education Quality Council in the review and development of a rubric to be used to evaluate universities.  As a Fulbright Specialist in 2021, she also provided faculty development at Eskisehir Technical University to improve online teaching, learning and assessment. In the fall of 2013, Franklin supported Sakarya University in Turkey, as a Fulbright Research Scholar working on a project called Connecting Web 2.0 and Teacher Preparation, which examined the use of mobile technologies to deliver content in rural areas. She has worked in the Middle East for the past decade, including professional development workshops in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey to improve teaching and learning strategies within classrooms.

鈥淚鈥檓 very interested in technology and have seen the things that technology can do,鈥� Franklin explains. 鈥淚t offers an avenue for lifelong learning for all of us. Around the world, technology has allowed people to connect with one another and allowed access to information, such as health information, and (the opportunity to) continue their education. I realize how connected technology allows us to be.鈥�

Franklin became interested in helping to provide teacher professional development and educational technology integration internationally when a former graduate student from Amman, Jordan, called her and asked for help. 鈥淲e have built workshops and partnerships throughout Jordan, some of Saudi Arabia and Turkey helping people use technology to improve access to educational content and information,鈥� says Franklin. She has taught and mentored many international graduate students who have gone on to do similar work in their countries.

Her research focuses on the integration of technology through curriculum development for face-to-face and online learning, the development of virtual learning environments and e-learning; mobile technologies in the classroom; and teacher/faculty professional development in integrating technology for differentiated instruction and improved student achievement. Dr. Franklin's scholarship addresses issues related to both higher and K-12 education and access to technology nationally and internationally. She serves as a site visitor for the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

Franklin has been the recipient of two National Science Foundation GK-12 Grants, a Department of Education 鈥� Star Schools Grant, and a Department of Education 鈥� Preparing Tomorrow鈥檚 Teachers to Use Technology (PT3) Grant. She is a co-author on a leading science education textbook in its 5^th edition, Science for All Children, as well as a journal editor and the author of many technology publications.